Patrick Wright, Baron Wright of Richmond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Wright of Richmond
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Wright in 2016
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| Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office | |
| In office 1986–1991 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Antony Acland |
| Succeeded by | Sir David Gillmore |
| British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia | |
| In office 1984–1986 |
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| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by | Sir James Craig |
| Succeeded by | Sir Stephen Egerton |
| British Ambassador to Syria | |
| In office 1979–1981 |
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| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by | James Craig |
| Succeeded by | Roger Tomkys |
| British Ambassador to Luxembourg | |
| In office 1977–1979 |
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| Prime Minister | James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | Sir Antony Acland |
| Succeeded by | Jeremy Thomas |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 10 February 1994 – 17 December 2019 Life peerage |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patrick Richard Henry Wright
28 June 1931 |
| Died | 6 March 2020 (aged 88) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse |
Virginia Anne Gaffney
(m. 1958) |
| Children | 3, including Angus Wright |
| Alma mater | Merton College, Oxford |
| Occupation |
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Patrick Richard Henry Wright, Baron Wright of Richmond (born June 28, 1931, died March 6, 2020) was a very important British diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country when talking to other countries. He was even the head of all British diplomats.
He was also a member of the House of Lords from 1994 until he retired in 2019. The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament. He sat as a "crossbencher," meaning he didn't belong to a specific political party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Patrick Wright was born to Herbert and Rachel Wright. He went to a school called Marlborough College. After school, he served in the Royal Artillery for two years, from 1950 to 1951.
Then, he went to Merton College, Oxford University. He studied a subject called Literae humaniores, which includes classics like Greek and Latin. He finished his studies in 1955.
A Career in Diplomacy
Patrick Wright started working for the British Diplomatic Service in 1955. This service helps the UK government manage its relationships with other countries.
Learning Arabic and Early Posts
From 1956 to 1957, he studied Arabic in Lebanon. After that, he worked at the British Embassy in Beirut from 1958 to 1960. He was a Second Secretary there.
Working in Washington and Cairo
Between 1960 and 1965, he worked at the British Embassy in Washington DC, USA. He was a Private Secretary to the Ambassador and a First Secretary. From 1965 to 1967, he was a Private Secretary to a very senior official in the Foreign Office.
Then, from 1967 to 1970, he was a First Secretary and Head of Chancery at the British Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.
Key Roles in the Middle East and UK
In 1971 and 1972, he was a Deputy Political Resident in Bahrain. This was an important role in the Middle East. From 1972 to 1974, he led the Middle East Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The FCO is the UK government department for foreign affairs.
He also worked as a Private Secretary for overseas affairs to two British Prime Ministers, Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, from 1974 to 1977.
Becoming an Ambassador
In 1977, Patrick Wright became the British Ambassador to Luxembourg. An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat representing their country in another country.
In 1979, he became the Ambassador to Syria, where he stayed until 1981. From 1982 to 1984, he was a Deputy Under-Secretary of State at the FCO.
Head of Diplomatic Service
Sir Patrick Wright was the British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1984 to 1986.
For the next five years, until he retired in 1991, he held two very important jobs. He was the Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the FCO. This is the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office. He was also the Head of HM Diplomatic Service, leading all British diplomats around the world.
After Retirement
After retiring from his diplomatic career in 1991, Lord Wright joined the boards of several large companies. He was a director at Barclays, British Petroleum, De La Rue, Unilever, and BAA.
He also served on the Security Commission from 1993 to 2002. This group advises the government on security matters. He was involved with other important organizations too, like Chatham House and the Royal College of Music. He was also a founding trustee and chairman of Home-Start International, a charity that helps families.
Honours and Titles
Patrick Wright received several special honours for his service.
- In 1978, he became a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).
- In 1984, he was made a Knight Commander (KCMG).
- In 1989, he became a Knight Grand Cross (GCMG). These honours mean he was given the title "Sir."
- In 1990, he was made a Knight of the Order of St John.
In 1994, he was given a special title and became a "life peer." This meant he could sit in the House of Lords for the rest of his life. He was known as Baron Wright of Richmond.
Family Life
Patrick Wright married Virginia Anne Gaffney in 1958. They had three children: two sons, Marcus and Angus, and one daughter, Olivia. Olivia later married Simon McDonald, Baron McDonald of Salford, who also became a very senior diplomat and Head of the Diplomatic Service, just like her father.
Coat of Arms
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